Wildlife and Scenery – Cape Town to Johannesburg

The touch of wildlife and scenery package is the perfect tour package for those with little time to see South Africa’s most popular wildlife and scenic areas in only 8 days! Also included is the Panorama Route. The tour departs daily from both Cape Town and Johannesburg.

DAY 1.  Cape Town – Hermanus – Swellendam – Mossel Bay

This wildlife and scenery tour package highlights the diversity of South Africa. Depart from Cape Town at around 09h00 and drive eastwards via the beautiful coastal route between Gordon’s Bay and Hermanus, a seaside holiday town (Hermanus is the best place in the World to spot Whales from land – July to Dec). Afterwards, drive on to Mossel Bay. Here we visit arguably the oldest post office in Africa, the Post Office Tree.  The Portuguese explorer Bartholomew Dias made landfall here in 1488. Overnight at Bar -T-Nique Lodge.

DAY 2.  Mossel Bay – Oudtshoorn – Cango Caves – Ostrich Farm.

The 2nd Day of the 8 Days touch of Wildlife and Scenery starts over the Outeniqua Mountains in the Little Karoo to visit an Ostrich Show Farm for unique experiences. We visit the Cango caves, regarded as one of South Africa’s foremost natural wonders. The fascinating calcite caves comprise an underground wonderland of stalactites and stalagmites. Visit Oudtshoorn, also called the “Feather capital” of the world, as one finds over ninety per cent of the world’s ostrich farms here. Overnight La Plume Lodge.

DAY 3.  Oudtshoorn – Cango Wildlife Ranch – Garden Route – Knysna

After breakfast, we visit the Cango Wildlife Ranch and Valley of Ancients, an endangered species breeding facility extraordinaire. Then depart for George and Wilderness National Park. We skirt around the lakes with stops at scenic viewpoints to Knysna. The town is situated on the Knysna Lagoon edge, with its entrance to the sea guarded by two promontories known as the “Heads”. The area also falls within a National Park proclaimed to conserve the Lakelands’ extraordinary natural beauty and adjacent indigenous forests. Knysna also offers shopping opportunities for unusual locally made art and craft, etc. We join a sundowner cruise on the lagoon—overnight Augusta Bay Lodge.

DAY 4.  Knysna – Plettenberg Bay – Tsitsikamma National Park – Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)

We explore Knysna and travel further via Plettenberg Bay for a short visit. Then we traverse through magnificently scenic river valley passes. We visit the Tsitsikamma National Park (Khoisan for ‘The place of much water” stretching over 100 km of wild and rocky coastline. Massive cliffs, narrow, isolated beaches and shady indigenous forests along the river valleys characterize the coast. Visit Storms River with the impressive Paul Sauer Bridge across the valley towering some 139 m above the river. The final part of our journey takes us past a few coastal holiday villages to Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth). Overnight Fifth Avenue Beach House.

DAY 5. Gqeberha – Johannesburg – Panoramic Route

An early rise and breakfast before you are transferred to the local airport at 07h30 for your 08h45 flight to Johannesburg. On arrival, your guide meets you, and the tour continues from Johannesburg eastwards. Travel further via Middelburg, Dullstroom and Robber’s Pass to Pilgrim´s Rest; the early gold mining town turned into a living museum. Above all, rich deposits of alluvial gold were found here at the end of the 19th century, hence the town’s existence deep in the mountains. After exploring this quaint old town, we continue to Graskop. Overnight Angels View Hotel.

DAY 6.  Panoramic Route – Kruger National Park

We travel further to marvel at scenic areas such as the Pinnacle, God’s Window, Lisbon Falls, Bourke’s Luck Potholes (a walk down the hill to this unique trick of nature is worth the effort), and the magnificent Three Rondavels view site at the Blyde River Canyon. Walk along the cliffs to really appreciate the breathtaking views.  Then descend to the Lowveld via Abel Erasmus Pass and the Strijdom Tunnel and enter the famous Kruger National Park, where our encounter with Africa’s wildlife commences.  We Arrive at our camp afterwards for overnight.

DAY 7.  The Best Kruger National Park Excursion

Today is completely devoted to game viewing as we search for the ‘Big Five’ amongst other animals. We arrive back at our camp at sunset for dinner and overnight. An optional night safari in an open safari vehicle utilising high powered spotlights to find the nocturnal animals is available. While visiting the Kruger National Park, you will have the opportunity to see lions, often referred to as “the king of the jungle”, along with other species, including endangered rhinos.

DAY 8.  Kruger National Park – Johannesburg

We rise early for a game drive and have breakfast on a deck overlooking the Sabie River. We spend the rest of the morning in the reserve. Early afternoon we exit this amazing haven of wild Africa and return to Johannesburg, arriving early evening.

Other tours that may interest you:

Touch of Wildlife and Scenery departing from Johannesburg – SC-01C

The Taste of South Africa – 11 Days – SC-02/11

The South Africa Classical Highlights – 11 Day – SC-03

19 Day Grand South Africa Tour – SC-06